The original 2022 Apple Watch Ultra introduced the 49mm titanium design and customizable orange Action button
The Ultra 4 measures background heart rate every five seconds, providing substantially more frequent readings
The watch’s Max Extended Workout mode supports up to 45 hours of outdoor activity tracking
A new Audio Intelligence feature is intended to help users recall important moments from conversations, with availability depending on software support

Apple Watch Ultra Enters Its Fourth Generation

Released in September 2026, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 continues to evolve with the S11 processor, a redesigned Health Sensing System, and new recovery insights. Starting at $799 USD, it represents Apple’s most advanced smartwatch, with features extending well beyond conventional activity tracking.

Titanium Construction and a Brilliant Display

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 retains the series’ recognizable 49mm Grade 5 titanium case, available in natural and black finishes. Its flat sapphire crystal protects an always-on OLED display with 422 × 514 resolution and up to 3,000 nits of brightness. The customizable Action button, Digital Crown, and raised protective edges provide practical controls for demanding environments.

Water resistance to 100 meters, a depth gauge, and support for recreational scuba diving to 40 meters reinforce its adventure credentials. At approximately 63 grams, the Ultra 4 has a substantial wrist presence, with interchangeable bands available for sports, outdoor activities, and everyday wear.

More Detailed Health Monitoring

Apple’s redesigned Health Sensing System uses improved optical and electrical sensors to measure heart rate every five seconds throughout the day. More frequent heart rate variability measurements provide additional information about recovery and physiological stress, alongside established features including ECG, sleep tracking, and heart health notifications.

The new Readiness feature evaluates recent activity, training load, sleep, and vital signs to generate a daily score from 0 to 10. Its recommendations help users understand when they may be ready for demanding activity or benefit from additional recovery.

Longer Adventures, and More Power with Less Charging

Battery life reaches up to 50 hours under normal use and 84 hours in Low Power Mode. Specialized workout settings extend outdoor activity tracking to as much as 45 hours, while fast charging provides up to 18 hours of everyday use from a 15-minute charge. These improvements give the Ultra 4 greater flexibility for extended activities and regular daily wear.

Apple Intelligence brings more capable Siri interactions, while planned Audio Intelligence features include tools for recalling important conversational details and recognizing sounds.